Bread-Less Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps

Healthy Burger Lettuce Wraps Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. Did I hear you say amen? (AMEN)!…

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Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. On the positive side, you will not miss the absence of the typical bread bun burger. On the negative side, you are going to likely overindulge on these cheeseburger lettuce wraps! This lighter version of the burger is such a great way to enjoy what you already love! If you are doing keto or low-carb, then you will absolutely love this lettuce cheeseburger recipe.

Healthy Burger Lettuce Wraps

Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. Did I hear you say amen? (AMEN)! On the positive side, you will not miss the absence of the typical bread bun burger. On the negative side, you are going to likely overindulge on these cheeseburger lettuce wraps! Listen, I ate two of them at a sitting!

The best thing is that these low-carb burgers are super easy to make, and you can also make them way ahead! If possible, meal this recipe, and you are set for the week! The bottom line is that these cheeseburger lettuce wraps will not disappoint.

Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. On the positive side, you will not miss the absence of the typical bread bun burger. On the negative side, you are going to likely overindulge on these cheeseburger lettuce wraps! This lighter version of the burger is such a great way to enjoy what you already love! If you are doing keto or low-carb, then you will absolutely love this lettuce cheeseburger recipe. #Lettucewrap #cheeseburger #Lowcarbburger #bunlessburger #juicyburger

Why you will Love these Lettuce Wrap Burgers:

There are plenty of reasons to love these delicious lighter low-carb burgers! Aside from the obvious reasons (low-carb), lettuce wraps also have several health benefits.

  • They have way fewer calories than the regular bread buns. 
  • These lettuce wrap cheeseburgers are low-carb (only 3.8 net carb)! In other words, these burgers are excellent for people who may be on a diet like a keto or those who wish to eat lighter.
  • Easily customizable; feel free to make them as you wish! Add the ingredients you enjoy and swap those you don’t!
  • You can meal prep them way ahead, store separately and put together when you wish to serve. 
  • Overall, lettuce wraps have several health benefits, such as excellent hydration, bone health, and sleep improvement!

Ingredients for Making Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps

  • One big head of Romaine  Lettuce 
  • Ground beef (I used 80 – 20)
  • Creole seasoning
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Purple onions
  • Tomato
  • Cheese slices
  • Avocado 

For the sauce: plain Greek yogurt, light sour cream, apple cider vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice; I used Bragg’s, salt to taste, black pepper to taste, Monk fruit or any other none calorie sweetener.

Ingredients for making lettuce wraps cheeseburger

How to Make Bread-Less Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps

  • Wash all the vegetables (lettuce, onions, tomato), dry excess moisture with a paper towel. Set aside.
  • Cut the purple onions and tomato in rounds. You don’t have to wash your lettuce if it says “triple washed.”
  • Add the ground beef to a clean bowl. Add the “ingredients for the beef,” and combine. Do not over mix. Use a half-cup measure to scoop, then use your hand to form it into a patty. This recipe makes about 8 patties as you see here.
How to make the ground beef into patties

Making the Burger… Assemble & Serve.

  • Add one tablespoon of EVOO to a clean pan, heat up, and gently place the beef patties/burgers. Cook until done, set aside to assemble when ready. Do not overcrowd the pan.
  • To assemble (and depending on the time you made the burgers), you may need to warm them up. Place a slice of cheese on each burger while still warm to melt.
  • Place two lettuce leaves on a clean surface, add a thick slice of tomato, onion rounds, and a dollop of sauce.
  • Add the burger (topped with cheese), and finally top with some slices of avocado! Repeat until you make all the cheeseburgers! This is literally the easiest yet yummiest cheeseburger lettuce wraps to put together! I can’t wait until you try it!
How to Make Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps step-by-step

What is the Best Lettuce for Lettuce Wraps?

First of all, what is lettuce? Generally known as lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an annual plant of the daisy family, Asteraceae. It mainly grows as a leaf vegetable. Lettuce is rich in several vitamins such as vitamin A & K, folate, and iron. Lettuce originated from Egypt or was first farmed in Egypt! Uniquely, there are different types of lettuce, which gives us options. Here are some types (or categories) of lettuce that somewhat differ in feature, texture, and shades of green.

Types of Lettuce

  1. Romaine lettuce is usually an excellent choice for most wraps and salads. I used it for this recipe and equally for my shrimp lettuce wrap). It is crisp, crunchy, and broad. 
  2. Iceberg lettuce is generally crunchy. And has a lighter shade of green. This is also one of the cheapest lettuce leaves. I rarely use this one as a lettuce wrap; however, I enjoy it in salads. 
  3. Boston lettuce (loose-head; excellent for wraps, nevertheless may be a little expensive)
  4. Bibb lettuce ( loose-head; very similar to Boston lettuce)
  5. Loose-leaf lettuce (this is not loose-head. This one is typically loose as it grows individually). 
  6. Baby Romaine or little gem lettuce; I call this purple lettuce because the tips are purplish. Narrow, small leaves and may not be the best lettuce to use for a lettuce wrap.
  7. Buttercrunch lettuce is similar to Boston lettuce and Bibb lettuce in shape, texture, and color. Most often, Boston lettuce and Bibb lettuce are classified as buttercrunch.

In reality, most of the lettuce types mentioned above can are great for making lettuce wraps, except for the loose-leaf or baby romaine. Personally, I wouldn’t use them! I went with romaine lettuce because it is broad, crisp, crunchy, firm, and forgiving! Load up anything, and it would look fabulous!

Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. On the positive side, you will not miss the absence of the typical bread bun burger. On the negative side, you are going to likely overindulge on these cheeseburger lettuce wraps! This lighter version of the burger is such a great way to enjoy what you already love! If you are doing keto or low-carb, then you will absolutely love this lettuce cheeseburger recipe. #Lettucewrap #cheeseburger #Lowcarbburger #bunlessburger #juicyburger

How to select the best Lettuce for a Lettuce Wrap:

Must be Sizable.

Size is essential when selecting lettuce that you intend to use as a wrap. In contrast to using them in salads, it is vital to choose a type of lettuce that is big enough to accommodate the fillings. Romaine lettuce, Boston lettuce, and Bibb lettuce are typically the top lettuce I would recommend for wraps. Iceberg equally works just fine because it is rounded and big enough. On the negative side, the iceberg seems thin and can easily tear apart. 

Shape Matters.

Shape plays an important role when choosing lettuce for wraps. For example, I wouldn’t select loose-leaf lettuce or baby romaine for these cheeseburger lettuce wraps. Clearly, the fillings – tomato, onions, burger, etc., won’t fit!

On the other hand, wide, broad, and round lettuce leaves are typically best for any wraps! I would generally avoid using lettuce leaves that are narrow or tiny for this cheeseburger lettuce wraps!

Strong leaves and Rib.

Be sure to select lettuce with solid leaves and rib for your wraps. This way, they would be able to hold the fillings without falling apart. Unfortunately, greens can stay in the grocery store for a while. Ensure that the one you pick is fresh, firm, robust leaves, and durable rib. 

Loose-head.

If you are making cheeseburger lettuce wraps for the first time, definitely go loose-head lettuce. For instance, buttercrunch lettuce, Boston lettuce, or bibb lettuce are all loose-head. This is because the leave does not hold together like the hard-head. I find it a bit challenging separating iceberg lettuce.

Always buy Fresh.

Do not buy lettuce that looks yellow, brown, or wilted. They are probably old and won’t be any good for making wraps, especially these cheeseburger lettuce wraps.

Raw lettuce for cheese burger lettuce wraps

How to Stack and Secure a Bunless Burger:

First of all, can we agree that stacking a lettuce burger, aka bun-less burger is way different than stacking a bun burger? The latter is easier because the bun is typically firm and gives it a balance.

When stacking your cheeseburger lettuce wraps, please be patient and know that it may not necessarily be aesthetically pleasing. As long as your lettuce burger is moist and delicious, worry less about aesthetics.

Having said that, feel free to follow my step-by-step instructions, and add the components one at a time. And because this is not your regular bun burger, you may need to secure it properly. I place each cheeseburger lettuce wrap in a “sandwich wrap paper” to avoid accidents. Additionally, I may use a toothpick to lock it, as you see in the photo below.

Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. On the positive side, you will not miss the absence of the typical bread bun burger. On the negative side, you are going to likely overindulge on these cheeseburger lettuce wraps! This lighter version of the burger is such a great way to enjoy what you already love! If you are doing keto or low-carb, then you will absolutely love this lettuce cheeseburger recipe. #Lettucewrap #cheeseburger #Lowcarbburger #bunlessburger #juicyburger

How to Store Leftover Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps

Luckily you can easily store leftover cheeseburger lettuce wraps in the fridge until next time. First, the key is to keep them separately. In other words, store the burgers in a separate container, and do the same for the lettuce, onions, tomato, cheese, and sauce. 

Secondly, ensure that the lettuce is washed and dry before storing. Use a salad spinner to remove all the moisture. If you do not have a salad spinner, use paper towels and lay them between single lettuce leaves. Be gentle not to tear the leaves. Finally, for best results, only assemble the cheeseburgers you can consume at a time.

Tips for Making the Best Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps:

  1. Use fresh, firm, and crisp lettuce.
  2. Do not over mix the ground beef.
  3. Avoid over-cooking the burger patties; you want them moist and juicy. No one likes an over-dried burger!
  4. Season as you go. For instance, I seasoned the ground beef. Season the sauce. If necessary, sprinkle a little salt on the tomato and onion slices when you place them on the lettuce.
  5. Feel free to chop up some cheese and place them in the middle of the burger for juicy cheeseburger lettuce wraps!
Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. On the positive side, you will not miss the absence of the typical bread bun burger. On the negative side, you are going to likely overindulge on these cheeseburger lettuce wraps! This lighter version of the burger is such a great way to enjoy what you already love! If you are doing keto or low-carb, then you will absolutely love this lettuce cheeseburger recipe. #Lettucewrap #cheeseburger #Lowcarbburger #bunlessburger #juicyburger

Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps FAQs:

What is the best lettuce for burgers without buns?

For lettuce wraps I recommend, romaine lettuce, Buttercrunch, Boston lettuce, and Bibb lettuce.

What are homemade lettuce wrap burger calories?

Each cheeseburger lettuce wrap is 372 calories and only 3.8 net carbs! 

Is lettuce wrap burger keto?

Yes, these cheeseburger lettuce wraps are low-carb and keto.

Are lettuce-wrapped burgers healthy?

Yes, lettuce wrap burgers are great healthier options.

What do you call a burger wrapped in lettuce?

A burger wrapped in lettuce is typically called a lettuce wrap burger or low-carb burger. However, here we call them low-carb cheeseburger lettuce wraps!

Can you freeze lettuce wraps?

I would not suggest or recommend freezing lettuce wraps. This is because they would never be or look the same whenever they defrost! The same rule that applies to salad applies to lettuce wraps, in my opinion. 
On the other hand, you freeze the burger and refrigerate lettuce, onions, tomato, cheese, and sauce. This way, you can still warm up the burger and assemble them when needed. 

Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. On the positive side, you will not miss the absence of the typical bread bun burger. On the negative side, you are going to likely overindulge on these cheeseburger lettuce wraps! This lighter version of the burger is such a great way to enjoy what you already love! If you are doing keto or low-carb, then you will absolutely love this lettuce cheeseburger recipe. #Lettucewrap #cheeseburger #Lowcarbburger #bunlessburger #juicyburger

HOW TO MAKE LOW-CARB CHEESEBURGER LETTUCE WRAPS ( KETO BURGER RECIPE)

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Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. On the positive side, you will not miss the absence of the typical bread bun burger. On the negative side, you are going to likely overindulge on these cheeseburger lettuce wraps! This lighter version of the burger is such a great way to enjoy what you already love! If you are doing keto or low-carb, then you will absolutely love this lettuce cheeseburger recipe.

The Best Low-carb Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps

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  • Author: Nkechi Ajaeroh, MPH
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Lunch
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. On the positive side, you will not miss the absence of the typical bread bun burger. On the negative side, you are going to likely overindulge on these cheeseburger lettuce wraps!

This lighter version of the burger is such a great way to enjoy what you already love! If you are doing keto or low-carb, then you will absolutely love this lettuce cheeseburger recipe. 


Ingredients

Scale

1 Big head of Romaine Lettuce

For the burger:

2.25 pounds of ground beef or 36 oz (I used 80 – 20)

1 teaspoon creole seasoning

½ teaspoon salt (or less)

1 Maggi

¼ black pepper (or as desired)

 

For the sauce:

3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt

3 tablespoons of light sour cream

1 tablespoon of vinegar (or freshly squeezed lemon juice. But I used vinegar)

Salt to taste

Black pepper to taste

12 Teaspoons of monk fruit


Instructions

  1. Wash all the vegetables (lettuce, onions, tomato), dry excess moisture with a paper towel. Set aside.
  2. Cut the purple onions and tomato in rounds. You don’t have to wash your lettuce if it says “triple washed.”
  3. Add the ground beef to a clean bowl. Add the “ingredients for the beef,” and combine. Do not over mix. Use a half-cup measure to scoop, then use your hand to form it into a patty. This recipe makes about 8 patties.
  4. Add one tablespoon of EVOO to a clean pan, heat up, and gently place the beef patties/burgers. Cook until done, set aside to assemble when ready. Do not overcrowd the pan.
  5. To make the sauce, add all the “sauce ingredients” into a small bowl, and mix well. Taste and adjust flavors.
  6. To assemble (and depending on the time you made the burgers), you may need to warm them up. Place a slice of cheese on each burger while still warm to melt.
  7. Place two lettuce leaves on a clean surface, add a thick slice of tomato, onion rounds, and a dollop of sauce.
  8. Add the burger (topped with cheese), and finally top with some slices of avocado! Repeat until you make all the cheeseburgers! This is literally the easiest yet yummiest cheeseburger lettuce wraps to put together! I can’t wait until you try it!

Notes

Make sure to wash the lettuce unless it comes triple washed!

If you wish to reduce the carb, then reduce the quantity of avocado

Do not over mix the ground beef.

Avoid over-cooking the burger patties, you want them moist and juicy. No one likes an over dried burger!

Season as you go. For instance, I seasoned the ground beef. Season the sauce. If necessary, sprinkle a little salt on the tomato and onion slices when you place them on the lettuce.

Feel free to chop up some cheese and place them in the middle of the burger for juicy cheeseburger lettuce wraps!

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More Low-Calorie (Low-carb) Salads to Try 

Healthy and delicious keto cobb salad is low-calorie (low-carb, obviously),  gluten-free, very tasty, and full of flavors.

Healthy and delicious keto cobb salad is low-calorie (low-carb, obviously), gluten-free, very tasty, and full of flavors. This salad is made with fresh romaine lettuce, sautéed chicken breast, crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and crumbled feta cheese. The best thing about this cobb salad is it can be prepped ahead, which means it comes together quickly whenever you want to eat it! This is the low-carb meal prep salad recipe you are looking for; easy, breezy, and tasty! Definitely a must-try! #Cobbsalad #Ketorecipe #ketocobbsalad #healthysalad #lowcarbsalad

Spring Mix Salad: Keto, low carb, gluten-free, and easy to make Spring mix salad recipe requires only four ingredients. Perfect for a healthy lunch or weeknight dinner.

This 4-ingredient spring mix salad with apple cider vinaigrette is fresh, flavorful, and easy to make. You need spring mix salad greens, air fryer chicken breast, air fryer boiled eggs, and avocado. This spring mix salad recipe is a healthy keto/low-carb salad recipe you need in your arsenal. It is also gluten-free, dairy-free, and perfect for meal prep. You can prep all the ingredients individually at the start of the week and then assemble them for an easy weekday lunch or dinner.

Berry Spinach Salad: This is the low-carb salad you didn’t know you need. The best part is that this salad is read in 10 minutes, the perfect way to use the berries and spinach! Serve with your choice of protein, or keep it vegan as-is.

A fresh bowl of nutritious Berry spinach salad

Red Cabbage Taco Salad: If you are looking for a low-carb Taco, I got you. This Red Cabbage Taco recipe is what you need; it is keto-friendly, gluten-free, very tasty, and nutritious! The best part is that it is easy to make!

Purple Cabbage Taco Salad: Colorful, flavorful, and insanely delicious, this red cabbage wrap will lighten up your day! A fantastic lunch, dinner, or snack, cabbage wraps are also kid-friendly, and crowd-pleasers.

More Healthy Salads:

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Cheeseburger lettuce wraps are the perfect alternative to regular cheeseburgers that we all know and love. These lettuce wraps are the healthy (whole food) keto burgers you need – fresh, flavorful, tasty, and nutritious! Get all the tastiness of burgers without the hefty calories. On the positive side, you will not miss the absence of the typical bread bun burger. On the negative side, you are going to likely overindulge on these cheeseburger lettuce wraps! This lighter version of the burger is such a great way to enjoy what you already love! If you are doing keto or low-carb, then you will absolutely love this lettuce cheeseburger recipe. #Lettucewrap #cheeseburger #Lowcarbburger #bunlessburger #juicyburger

Thanks for stopping by!

Xx Kechi

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10 Comments

  1. Carrie Robinson says:

    I think this just may have to be my lunch today! 🙂 Looks delicious.






  2. Love these for a healthier twist on a family favorite!






  3. I can see why you call these burgers the best! They look so good!! I love all that green. Such amazing flavors.






  4. These lettuce wraps are so fulfilling and refreshing! Those avocado slices are everything!






  5. This sounds amazing! I am always looking for fun new ways to substitute carbs in foods that I love. And I love that you added creole seasoning to the burger! The whole family is going to love this, and they won’t even miss the hamburger bun!